Car-coupling



(No Model.)

H. MENZEMBR.

GAR COUPLING. No. 264,733. Patented Sept. 19, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.N

HARRISON MENZEMER, OF SHAWNEETOWN, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 264,733, dated September 19, 1.882.

Application led April 10, 183:2. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON MENZEMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Shawneetown, in the county of Gallatin and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in GarOouplings, of which the following is a specification.

M y invention relates to a car-coupler adapted to be operated either from the top or side of the car for couplingand uncoupling. It works with a common link, which is keyed automatically by a pin swinging Within the draw-head, said pin heilig hinged to a pendent slide jointed to an arm projecting forward from the horizontal rock-shaft extending to each side ot' the car for uncoupling from the ground, a vertical rod being also hinged to the pendant reaching upward to the platform of a passenger-car, or to the top of a freightcar, as the case may be, for coupling and uncoupling from above. Then held by the coupling-pin the link is supported by a shouldered wedge in horizontal position in readiness to enter the draw-head of the other car, and with its principal length extended beyond the face ot' its own draw-head. A catch is employed to hold the rock-shaft when desired to retain the coupling-pin in its elevated or retracted position, or a similar effect may be produced .by the introduction ofthe wedge when the link is out.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section of the ends ot' a passengeccar and a freight-car coupled together. Fig. 2 is a perspective View ofthe end of acar, showing the coupler retracted. Fig. 3 is a perspective view and transverse section ofthe Wedge employed for supporting` the pin within the draw-head in its horizontal and projecting position in readiness for coupling with an approaching car.

A and B represent portions of two cars, C the coupling-link, and D D the draw-heads.

rlhe rock-shaft E is mounted in horizontal position on the front of the platform or carbody, as the case may be, said rock-shaft having at its center a rigid arm, F, from which is hung a pendant, G. To the lower end of this is hinged a coupling-pin, H, adapted to work as a latch, permitting the link C to enter the draw-head, and then falling within said link, and having bearing against the inner face of the draw-head to retain the link.

At the extremities ofthe rock-shaft are rigid arms l I, to adapt said shaft to he turned up by a-u operator at either side ofthe car for the purpose ot' withdrawing the hinged couplingpin H.

To the Lipper end of the pendant Gr is hinged a pull-rod, J, or chain J', which extends to the iop of the freightcar A, or to the platform ot' the passenger-car B, as the case may be, to permit the drawing up of the pendant and coupling-pin from above.

K represents an additional rigid'arm, projecting from the rock-shaft in position to be caught by a falling catch, L, for the purpose of holding the rock-shaft in its retracted position and supporting the coupling pin H out ot' engagement with the liukO.

M represents a wedge, formed with a shoulder, m, or in L shape in transverse section, which is inserted in an opening, N, of correspondingshape,transverselythrongh thedrawhead in rear ofthe coupling-pin H, the rabhet of the wedge being adapted to receive the end of the link G in the rear ot' t-he piu I, so as to hold the said link in its projected position, and by the engagement ofthe upper ange of the said wedge over the extremity of the link to support the linkin horizontal position in readiness to enter the draw-head ot' an approaching car.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The coupling-pin H, hinged within the draw-head and adapted to beswung back by, permit the entry ot', and then fall into, the link, as set forth.

2. The horizontal rock-shaft E, arm F, pendantG, hinged to arm, and coupling-pin H, hinged to pendant and operating within the draw-head D, as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination of coupling-pin H, pendant G, hinged thereto, arm F, hinged to pend- 5 ant, rock-shaft E, retaining-arm L, and wedge Mfor holding' the coupling-pin in its retracted Witnesses: position, as described. GEO. W. PILLOW,

4. The combination of the coupling-pin H, DANIEL F. NORTON.

link C, draw-head D, and wedge M, as and for the purposes set forth.

HARRISON MENZEMER. 

